Compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2017, Applied grew net sales by 28 percent to $4.20 billion. On a GAAP basis, the company increased gross margin by 1.6 points to 45.7 percent, and grew operating income by 48 percent to $1.20 billion or 28.4 percent of net sales. GAAP earnings per share (EPS) declined to $0.13 due to a one-time charge related to recent U.S. tax legislation that reduced EPS by approximately $0.94.

On a non-GAAP adjusted basis, over the same period, the company increased gross margin by 1.3 points to 46.7 percent, grew operating income by 46 percent to $1.25 billion or 29.6 percent of net sales, and increased EPS by 58 percent to $1.06, which excludes the charge related to recent U.S. tax legislation. In addition, non-GAAP EPS included a benefit of $0.04 that was driven by recent changes in U.S. tax legislation that reduced the company's fiscal 2018 tax rate relative to previous expectations.

The company increased cash flow from operations by 85 percent year over year to $1.47 billion and returned $888 million to shareholders through dividends of $106 million and $782 million in share repurchases.

“We see sustainable strength in our markets as large, powerful trends drive a fundamental shift in the demand for semiconductors and displays,” said Gary Dickerson, president and CEO. “Our broad portfolio of capabilities and products puts us in a great position to outperform our markets and we’re confident that each of our three major business segments can deliver strong double-digit growth in 2018.”

Quarterly Results Summary

Q1 FY2018

Q1 FY2017

Change

(In millions, except per share amounts and percentages)

Net sales

$

4,204

$

3,278

28%

Gross margin

45.7

%

44.1

%

1.6 points

Operating margin

28.4

%

24.6

%

3.8 points

Net income

$

135

$

703

(81%)

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.13

$

0.65

(80%)

Non-GAAP Adjusted Results

Non-GAAP adjusted gross margin

46.7

%

45.4

%

1.3 points

Non-GAAP adjusted operating margin

29.6

%

26.0

%

3.6 points

Non-GAAP adjusted net income

$

1,135

$

732

55%

Non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS

$

1.06

$

0.67

58%

A reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP adjusted results is provided in the financial tables included in this release. See also “Use of Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures” section.

Capital Allocation

Applied’s Board of Directors has approved a doubling of the quarterly cash dividend on the company's common stock to $0.20 per share. The Board declared that a dividend of $0.20 per share will be payable on June 14, 2018 to shareholders of record as of May 24, 2018. As previously announced, a cash dividend of $0.10 per share will be paid on March 14, 2018 to shareholders of record as of February 21, 2018.

The Board also approved a new $6.0 billion share repurchase authorization. This new authorization is incremental to $2.8 billion remaining in the previously approved authorization.

As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the company recorded a $1.0 billion tax charge, which included an estimate of a one-time transition tax that is payable over 8 years.

Business Outlook

In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, Applied expects net sales to be in the range of $4.35 billion to $4.55 billion; the midpoint of the range would be an increase of approximately 26 percent, year over year. Non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $1.10 to $1.18; the midpoint of the range would be an increase of approximately 44 percent, year over year.

This outlook for non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS excludes known charges related to completed acquisitions of $0.04 per share and includes the normalized tax benefit of share-based compensation of $0.01 per share, but does not reflect any items that are unknown at this time, such as any additional charges related to acquisitions or other non-operational or unusual items, as well as other tax related items, which we are not able to predict without unreasonable efforts due to their inherent uncertainty.

First Quarter Reportable Segment Information

Semiconductor Systems

Q1 FY2018

Q1 FY2017

(In millions, except percentages)

Net sales

$

2,847

$

2,150

Foundry

25

%

50

%

DRAM

25

%

16

%

Flash

37

%

25

%

Logic and other

13

%

9

%

Operating income

995

690

Operating margin

34.9

%

32.1

%

Non-GAAP Adjusted Results

Non-GAAP adjusted operating income

$

1,041

$

736

Non-GAAP adjusted operating margin

36.6

%

34.2

%

Applied Global Services

Q1 FY2018

Q1 FY2017

(In millions, except percentages)

Net sales

$

880

$

676

Operating income

254

178

Operating margin

28.9

%

26.3

%

Non-GAAP Adjusted Results

Non-GAAP adjusted operating income

$

255

$

179

Non-GAAP adjusted operating margin

29.0

%

26.5

%

Display and Adjacent Markets

Q1 FY2018

Q1 FY2017

(In millions, except percentages)

Net sales

$

455

$

422

Operating income

101

115

Operating margin

22.2

%

27.3

%

Non-GAAP Adjusted Results

Non-GAAP adjusted operating income

$

104

$

115

Non-GAAP adjusted operating margin

22.9

%

27.3

%

Use of Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures

Applied provides investors with certain non-GAAP adjusted financial measures, which are adjusted for the impact of certain costs, expenses, gains and losses, including certain items related to mergers and acquisitions; restructuring charges and any associated adjustments; impairments of assets, or investments; gain or loss on sale of strategic investments; tax effect of share-based compensation; certain income tax items and other discrete adjustments. Additionally, the first quarter of fiscal 2018 non-GAAP results exclude estimated discrete income tax expense items associated with changes to recent U.S. tax legislation. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are provided in the financial tables included in this release.

Management uses these non-GAAP adjusted financial measures to evaluate the company’s operating and financial performance and for planning purposes, and as performance measures in its executive compensation program. Applied believes these measures enhance an overall understanding of our performance and investors’ ability to review the company’s business from the same perspective as the company’s management, and facilitate comparisons of this period’s results with prior periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our ongoing operating performance. There are limitations in using non-GAAP financial measures because the non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, and may exclude certain items that may have a material impact upon our reported financial results. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Webcast Information

Applied Materials will discuss these results during an earnings call that begins at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time today. A live webcast will be available at www.appliedmaterials.com. A replay will be available on the website beginning at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time today.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding anticipated growth and trends in our businesses and markets, industry outlooks and demand drivers, technology transitions, our business and financial performance and market share positions, our capital allocation, our investment and growth strategies, our development of new products and technologies, our business outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the expected impact of recent U.S. tax legislation, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements and their underlying assumptions are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements include, without limitation: the level of demand for our products; global economic and industry conditions; consumer demand for electronic products; the demand for semiconductors; customers’ technology and capacity requirements; the introduction of new and innovative technologies, and the timing of technology transitions; our ability to develop, deliver and support new products and technologies; the concentrated nature of our customer base; our ability to expand our current markets, increase market share and develop new markets; market acceptance of existing and newly developed products; our ability to obtain and protect intellectual property rights in key technologies; our ability to achieve the objectives of operational and strategic initiatives, align our resources and cost structure with business conditions, and attract, motivate and retain key employees; the variability of operating expenses and results among products and segments, and our ability to accurately forecast future results, market conditions, customer requirements and business needs; further changes in U.S. tax laws and regulation, and our interpretations of them; and other risks and uncertainties described in our SEC filings, including our most recent Forms 10-K and 8-K. All forward-looking statements are based on management’s current estimates, projections and assumptions, and we assume no obligation to update them.

About Applied Materials

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. Our expertise in modifying materials at atomic levels and on an industrial scale enables customers to transform possibilities into reality. At Applied Materials, our innovations make possible the technology shaping the future. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.

2 In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, Applied adopted the accounting standard related to share-based compensation (ASU 2016-09), which resulted in a $51 million tax benefit on a GAAP basis; this benefit is being recognized ratably over the fiscal year on a non-GAAP basis.

3 Charges to income tax provision related to a one-time transition tax and a decrease in U.S. deferred tax assets as a result of the recent U.S. tax legislation.

4 Adjustment to provision for income taxes related to non-GAAP adjustments reflected in income before income taxes.

Note: The reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP adjusted segment results above does not include certain revenues, costs of products sold and operating expenses that are reported within corporate and other and included in consolidated operating income.